Guneet Monga Kapoor launches Women in Film India at Cannes, champions gender equity in cinema

The red carpet was not the only thing glittering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Amidst cinematic celebrations, a groundbreaking initiative took centre stage, the official launch of Women in Film India (WIF India) by Oscar-winning powerhouse Guneet Monga Kapoor. With it, she is not just rewriting the rules of representation, she is building the playbook from scratch.

Women in Film India launched by Guneet Monga

Making its global debut in the most cinematic way possible, WIF India kicked off its journey by announcing its first-ever Cannes Producers Fellowship, a dynamic programme designed to boost Indian women producers onto the international stage. The spotlight? Three incredible visionaries who have been shaping narratives and pushing boundaries back home: Tillotama Shome, the critically acclaimed actor who now helms Shadowbox; Rucha Pathak, a seasoned creative mind; and Dimpy Agarwal, an independent filmmaker using cinema to drive social change.

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These trailblazers are not just attending Cannes, they are participating in the Producers Network, accessing international co-productions, funding avenues, and invaluable global partnerships.

Guneet Monga calls it structural

¡°This is not symbolic, it is structural,¡± Guneet expressed through her bold initiative. Her vision is rooted in real-world impact: mentorships, leadership development, and sustainable access. She envisions WIF India as the scaffolding for future generations of women in entertainment, not just a one-time celebration.

Shefali Bhushan, a key voice in Marathi cinema, also joins this powerful lineup through a special accreditation grant, furthering WIF India¡¯s mission to represent India in all its regional diversity.

A platform for women in the screen industry

The initiative, supported by Women in Film Los Angeles (WIF LA) and Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), joins a global sisterhood of over 50 affiliates. According to WIF CEO Kirsten Schaffer, this partnership is a key step towards building a truly connected global community of women in the screen industries.

In addition to the glitz, the fellowship also comes with a powerful ripple effect: each producer will bring their learnings back to the Indian community, ensuring that the initiative does not end with Cannes, it begins with it.

With WIF India, Guneet Monga Kapoor is not just raising a toast to Indian talent, she is building the entire table.